Fed rate cut around election would be 'complicated': Economist

Wall Street forecasts are pushing back the timeline for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in 2024, if at all. Citi experts are still standing firm on their call for a rate cut to come as early as June or July. Inflation has remained persistent in 2024 while labor market data has been resilient, complicating the Fed's plans to ease rates in an election year.

Deutsche Bank Chief US Economist Matthew Luzzetti joins the Morning Brief in-studio to elaborate on his expectations for the Fed to holdout and cut rates as far back as December.

"If it's a clear case, probably driven by a weakening labor market and growth data, they could cut rates around the election. I think it's more complicated if it's just about inflation," Luzzetti says. "The Fed is thinking about cutting rates because of disinflation, but inflation is still well above the Fed's target. Cutting rates for the first time, just based on inflation right around the election, I think is more complicated."

For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief.

This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

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